Scamahorn, a sufferer from stomach troubles and complications to the extent that the doctors had recommended a "change of climate."
Judge Tucker was always an enthusiast for Nebraska, and told in glowing terms a story of the paradise of the west. He found Reverend Scamahorn a ready listener, and assured him that northwestern Nebraska was the most salubrious climate in the world. Scamahorn was from a malarial section of Indiana, and a number of his neighbors were with him. and all became interested in the new Mecca of the great northwest.
That autumn, the year of 1883, six or seven of them determined to come out and look it over. While here they ate so hearty and slept so well that they were assured it was indeed a healthful climate, and they returned with glowing reports. During the winter a party of 104 was made up to come west into the wilderness. On March 20, 1884, they left Sullivan, Indiana, ■.chartering cars to Valentine, and: bringing along their stock, horses, cows, farm machinery, and household effects.
Necessary funds were a concern to many of them, and not the least of these was Rev. Scamahorn. He had a cow, a hog, two old horses, and sixty dollars in money. Not enough for carfare for himself and wife, but he managed to arrange to go as caretaker of one of the cars, and that gave him free passage, while the money enabled the wife to travel with the others.
.Mrs. Scamahorn, who still lives (1921) at Gordon, had in her Indiana home a new, upholstered parlor set, which she felt she would